The seven suspects standing trial for the murder of Mojisola Awesu, a final year female student of Kwara State College of Health Technology Offa, on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the state High Court, Ilorin.

The suspects were remanded in a correctional facility at the last court session for the absence of their counsels.

The prosecution was led by the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Idowu Ayoola Akande.

The DPP asked the court to proceed with the hearing since the defendants had pleaded not guilty just as the defence counsels posited that they were not prepared for the hearing because the matter was adjourned for arraignment at the last adjourned date.

Thus, Justice Ibrahim Yusuf adjourned the case till March 12, for hearing

Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole are the prime suspects accused of conspiring and causing the death of Awesu Mojisola on August 9, 2024.

She was said to have been lured to Ilorin, by one Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole only to be murdered before her corpse was dumped at a dump site in Warah community, Ilorin.

Happiness Adebayo and his parents Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi were accused of conspiring and causing the disappearance and destruction of evidence punishable under the Penal Code Law of Kwara state, 2006.

Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat, and Peter Bulus were accused of conspiring and dumping the corpse of Mojisola Awesu at a dump site along Warah Road, Ilorin, punishable under the Kwara state Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, 2018.